Chapter 1! I'm so excited about this story and I'm so happy that people seem to like it.

April 11th, 2161

Observation Deck

Arcturus Station

"Jane? Come on, sweetheart, you don't want to be late for your own birthday party, do you?"

Jane Shepard stared at the passing ships overhead, coming and going from the station. Her mother, Hannah, was waiting patiently a few feet away. She knew what Jane was waiting for, but she couldn't wait forever. The guests for her seventh birthday party would be arriving at the apartment soon.

Captain Alan Shepard had yet to arrive at the station. He said he would be there for his little girl's birthday, but it seemed plans had changed. Jane hadn't seen her father in six months, since he was sent out to the Terminus to do a covert check-up on the colonists.

Her mother tapped her foot, her patience growing thin.

"Jane, come on. We have to go."

"He's not here yet," Jane muttered, "he said he'd be here."

"I know, sweetie. He probably got sent out on another mission," Hannah put her arm around Jane's shoulder, only to have her shrug it off.

"I'll wait for him."

"Jane…"

"No! He said he'd be here! I'm going to wait for him!"

Tears had pooled in the corners of the little girl's eyes. Her mother sighed in defeat and left to return to their apartment, to explain to the guests who would be arriving any minute. Jane was left to herself. She sat herself on top of one of the storage containers, her eyes glued to the space outside.

Six year old Jeff Moreau watched the whole scene play out before him. His mother had been station on Arcturus as a civilian contractor, and she brought Jeff with, leaving his father to tend to the farm on Tiptree. Jeff had been devastated to leave his dad behind, but once he saw the ship port on Arcturus, his eyes lit up and thoughts of Tiptree disappeared.

For a six year old, Jeff was incredibly independent. He insisted, despite his Vrolik's, that he could handle himself. So his mother let him. It's not like he could get very far, anyway. He usually ended up on the observation deck, watching the ships fly by.

It was there he saw a little red headed girl hoist herself up onto the storage containers. She was crying, he saw. His mom had always told him it was appropriate to eavesdrop, but no matter how hard he tried, he could help but listen to the short conversation the girl and her mother had had. Once he saw the girl's mother leave her by herself, he decided the girl shouldn't be alone.

He was a very observant six year old.

"Hi," he called up to her.

Started, Jane quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and peered over the edge of her container, seeing a short boy with a baseball hat grinning up at her.

"Hi," she shyly replied. Her mother always told her not to talk to strangers.

"What are you doing?"

"Waiting."

"Why?"

"I have to."

"What for?"

"You ask a lotta questions."

Jeff's grin grew wider at that remark; he had heard it from his parents on multiple occasions.

"Can I sit with you?"

Jane pondered that for a moment. Since she had already talked to the stranger, what was the harm in letting him sit with her?

"Sure."

Jeff clambered up next to her with some difficulty, breathing hard by the time he finally plopped down next to her.

"Are you okay?" Jane asked.

"Yeah...I'm okay…" Jeff replied between breaths, trying to get his breathing under control, "What are you waiting for?"

"My dad. He said he'd be here," Jane settled back into the crate, her eyes returning back to the passing ships overhead.

"For what?" Jeff questioned.

"It's my birthday."

"Why aren't you having a party?"

"I was, but my dad's not here yet so I have to wait for him."

Jeff looked over at Jane. Her eyes were staring straight ahead, looking for any glimpse of her dad's ship. The traces of tears still lined her cheeks. He felt sad for her. No one should be alone on their birthday, so he'd stay with her as long as she wanted, even if his mom came to find him.

"What's your name?" Jeff questioned.

"Jane Shepard. What's yours?"

"Jeff Moreau."

"Nice to meet you, Jeff," Jane extended her hand to him as she had seen her mother do so many times before.

"Nice to meet you, too," he replied, grabbing her hand and shaking it.

Jane smiled at him as she withdrew her hand. She liked this Jeff Moreau.

"Do you live here?" Jane asked after a few minutes.

"Yeah, with my mom. She works here. What about you?"

"My mom and I live here. She's a captain in the Alliance. Her and dad take turns with being here. Once he gets back, mom will go back out on the Einstein and I'll be with dad."

"The Einstein? That's a huge ship!"

Just thinking about all the different kinds of ships the Alliance had made Jeff excited.

"Yeah, well, someday I'll have an even cooler ship and I'll get to be commander," Jane said with a nod of her head. She was determined to follow in her parents footsteps.

"Well, you'll need a pilot when that happens. I'll pilot your ship for you."

Jane smiled and looked over at the boy beside her.

"Jeff?"

"Yeah?"

"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

"I think you're right," Jeff returned her smile and they both began to laugh. A beautiful friendship, indeed.

Just then, the loud speakers boomed out the name of a ship coming into dock, the SSV Hyderabad. Captain Alan Shepard's ship. Jane sat up and stared out the window. He made it. He actually made it.

She launched herself off the crate and patiently waiting for the crew to disembark from the ship.

"Dad!" Jane yelled when she caught sight of him. Alan Shepard surveyed the room in search of where he had heard his daughter. When he saw her, his face broke into a smile as a kneeled down to catch her as she jumped into his arms.

"You made it!" Jane cried into her father's neck.

"Course I did. I told you I would, remember?"

"Yeah, but...you're late," Jane said as she pulled her head back to look into his face.

"I know. I'm sorry, sweetie, we had to take care of a few things before coming back. Where's your mother?"

"She went back home. I wanted to wait for you."

The Captain smiled at his daughter before pulling her into a warm embrace.

"I missed you, Jane. Happy birthday," Alan said quietly as he hugged her.

He set her down and placed her hand in his as the made their way back through the observation deck. Jeff was still seated atop the crate, a mixed feeling of sadness and happiness for Jane taking over him.

When her and her father came passed him, he called out to her.

"Happy birthday, Jane! I'm glad your dad made it."

"Thanks, Jeff. Do you want to come to the party?"

Jeff considered it for a moment before painstakingly making his way off the crate to join Jane and her father, who noticed the struggle he was putting in just to make it off the crate.

"Dad, this is Jeff. He's my new best friend," Jane said, pointing to Jeff.

Jeff put his hand next to his forehead like his mother had taught him and saluted. Alan laughed at that.

"No need to salute, Jeff. It's a pleasure to meet Jane's friends," he said, extending his hand in the same way Jane had. Jeff readily took and shook his hand in return. "Let's get going. I bet you kids are hungry for some cake."

Jane and her father unconsciously slowed their pace to match Jeff's, of which he was extremely grateful but a little embarrassed about. He wanted to keep up, but just couldn't manage. Someday though, he promised himself, someday he would.

Thanks for following this story! Chapter 2 will be up soon!

He just hoped Jane would be there to help him along the way.